External links

The evaluation of teaching and of courses is important in the quality assurance process in higher education. However, there is frequently disagreement and debate as to how the evaluation should be carried out. The debate is often most vigorous on the issue of teacher evaluation. What is the value of student feedback? What is the best/most effective way of obtaining student feedback? Who has ownership of the evaluation data? The resources here provide examples of evaluation processes and tools used in a number of higher education institutions. Some of the links lead you to articles that discuss the issues.

• Evaluation Cookbook
  A Learning Technology Dissemination Initiative (LTDI) project first published in 1998. The Cookbbok is a resource aimed at lecturers interested in evaluating materials for their effectiveness in achieving specific learning objectives. Although specifically aimed at evaluating the use of learning technology, the Cookbook can be used to evaluate any learning materials. It covers a whole range of methods (recipes) and has a useful page grouping these by the uses. The whole book can be downloaded in Acrobat Reader pdf format.
  
• Evaluations and Instruments (TEVAL/CEVAL)
  Describes the system of teacher and subject evaluation used at Queensland University, Australia. Includes samples of the questionnaires used and a vast item bank of questions.
  
• Evaluating Instruction
  From the online Handbook on Teaching at the University of California at Santa Barbara, USA. A further link 'Obtaining Feedback on Instruction' in this chapter provides 12 useful tips on obtaining feedback.
  
• Field-tested Learning Assessment Guide (FLAG)
  FLAG offers a resource of classroom-tested assessment tools for lecturers who have an interest in sharing and implementing new approaches to evaluating student learning, attitudes and performance. It covers the sciences, mathematics, engineering and technology. Many evaluation forms are avaialbe on this site.
  
• Teaching Evaluation and Enhancement Service
  Although targeted at staff at the University of Sydney, Australia the material at this site should be of general interest.
  
• Monitoring and Evaluating Teaching
  A useful guide from Oxford Brookes University, UK, for those new to teaching on how to get feedback from students inside and outside of class and from peers.
  
• Student Feedback
  Comprehensive guidelines on student feedback and its use in the evaluation of teaching and of courses from Nottingham Trent University, UK.
  
• Student Feedback Systems
  This is a project at Loughborough University, UK, on good practice in the systematic use of feedback in learning and teaching evaluation and enhancement.
  
• Student Surveys of Teaching and Units
  This describes the system in use at Murdoch University, Australia. It includes a paper on student views of evaluation of teaching and some suggestions for 'other ways of obtaining feedback from students' i.e., other than a questionnaire.
  
• Teacher Evaluation
  A range of resources on the topic, including essays, references and sample forms. Although targetted mainly at the School level the resources will also be useful to the educator at the Higher Education level.
  
• Teaching Evaluation Development Service
  This Service at Maqcuarie University, Australia includes a useful bank of question items for different evaluation purposes and guidance on the interpretation of results.
  
• Teacher Evaluation Policies and Practices
  A 1995 review of the literature with a list of criteria and recommendations for an effective teacher evaluation process. The background to the review is on evaluation of school teachers but many of the issues discussed apply equally to the higher education level.
  
• Teaching Perspectives Inventory (TPI)
  The TPI is aimed at helping you collect your thoughts and summarize your ideas about teaching. It can be useful in examining your own teaching as well as helping clarify the teaching views of other people. The TPI is quick to complete online and to automatically score your results. You may also choose to print out a profile sheet to help you visualize and interpret your scores.
  
• Handbook for Teaching Assistants
  From Queen's University, Canada. Contains the chapter Tips for Assessing Your Performance as a TA which is just as useful for lecturers